President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet Members (Photos)

Donald Trump

President

Trump will enter the Oval Office with no previous government experience. Since announcing his candidacy for president in June 2015, Trump has gone from an outside chance for the Republican nomination, to the GOP nominee, to President-elect in just over one year. However, the President-elect does have a background in business (primarily real estate development) and entertainment — most famously as the hiring and firing tycoon judge on “The Apprentice.” Trump has also been heavily involved in both the “Miss America” and “Miss Universe” pageants, serving as EP on both multiple times. He is currently planning the transition into his administration, and will be officially inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2017.

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Mike Pence

Vice President

After first failing in two bids to enter congress in 1988 and 1990, Mike Pence was elected to represent Indiana’s 2nd and 6th congressional districts in 2011 and 2013 respectively. He has served as Governor of Indiana since 2012, but abandoned his re-election campaign to join Donald Trump’s ticket and become Vice President. Pence has been widely criticized for his views on LGBT rights, especially after he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which effectively allows business owners the right to refuse service to people based on their sexual orientation. He will assume office following Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

AP Photo/John Locher

Reince Priebus

Chief of Staff

Priebus is the former chair of the Wisconsin Republican Party, a role he held at the invitation of close friend Paul Ryan after Ryan joined Congress. Priebus was first elected as RNC Chairman in 2011, and was re-elected in 2013 and 2015, making him the longest-serving RNC chairman in recent history. Although Trump has commended Priebus for his success as an RNC leader, Trump attacked the RNC during the primaries, calling them “weak” for allowing former Republican Presidential candidate Ted Cruz to accept his “fraudulent” win in Iowa.

Mike Pompeo

CIA Director

Pompeo was elected into Congress in 2010, endorsed by the Tea Party and heavily supported by the Koch Brothers. Pompeo serves on the House Intelligence Committee, where he was appointed to investigate the September 11, 2012 attack in Libya that left four Americans dead. He also serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he opposes the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, and has signed the American’s for Prosperity’s No Climate Tax Pledge, which opposes any legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.

Jeff Sessions

Attorney General

Sessions was the first member of the Senate to endorse Trump, and was considered a potential running mate for the president elect before Governor Mike Pence was ultimately chosen. Sessions supported the major legislative efforts under the George W. Bush Administration, including the Iraq War, a proposed national amendment to ban-same sex marriage, and the 2001 and 2003 tax-cut packages. In 1986, President Reagan nominated Sessions to be a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, but was ultimately denied the judgeship after former colleagues testified that he had made several racist comments.

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

Michael Flynn

National Security Advisor

Flynn, a former 3-star general lieutenant general and director of the DIA under the Obama administration, advocates for closer ties with Russia, a renegotiation of the Iran deal and battling the threat from Islamic State militants. Although a life-long registered Democrat, Flynn was one of Trump’s closest advisors and most keen supporters during the campaign, and served as one of his keynote speakers during the first night of the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Steve Bannon

Senior Counsel, Chief Strategist

Bannon, the chairman of far-right news network Breitbart, became chief executive officer of Trump’s campaign in August 2016. Bannon’s recent appointment as Trump’s chief strategist has been received negatively from several advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, due to his alleged anti-semitic, misogynistic and racist remarks.

Betsy DeVos

Secretary of Education
DeVos is known for her advocacy of school choice, which are programs that give alternatives to public schools; and school vouchers, which would allow students to attend private schools with public funding. Conservative school choice advocates, including Jeb Bush, praised DeVos, calling her an “outstanding pick.” However, the largest student union in the country showed disdain for DeVos, claiming that she is anti-public education.

Her appointment would need Senate confirmation.

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Steven Mnuchin

Secretary of Treasury

Like Trump, Mnuchin is a government outsider. He joined Trump’s campaign as finance chairman in May, playing a pivotal role in fundraising and developing the President-elect’s tax plan. He worked as a banker for many years, and financed a number of Hollywood films, including “Avatar” and “Life of Pi.”

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

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Wilbur Ross

Secretary of Commerce

Billionaire businessman Ross is another government outsider. He advised Trump on his economic agenda: strengthening American manufacturing and renegotiating/withdrawing from international trade agreements.

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

Fred Ernst/AP Images

James Mattis

Secretary of Defense

A retired 4-star general, Mattis led military operations in the Middle East.

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

Rex Features via AP Images

Rick Perry

Secretary of Energy

The former Governor of Texas competed on the most recent season “Dancing With the Stars.” He is a big proponent of fossil fuels over renewable energy sources.

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

Dennis Van Tine/Sipa USA

Elaine Chao

Secretary of Transportation

Formerly Secretary of Labor under George W. Bush, Chao is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Her appointment would need Senate confirmation.

Carolyn Kaster/AP Images

Tom Price

Secretary of Health and Human Services

The Chairman of the House Budget Committee is a vocal opponent of Obamacare and will be tasked with creating a new healthcare act.

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

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John F. Kelly

Secretary of Homeland Security

Another retired general, Kelly oversaw military operations in Central and South America.

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

(Wilfredo Lee/AP Images)

Ben Carson

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

A retired neurosurgeon who ran against Trump in the primaries, Carson is a D.C. outsider with no political experience. He has never lived in public housing and is against fair housing initiatives.

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

(Stephen Dunn/AP Images)

Andrew Pudzer

Secretary of Labor

Pudzer, the CEO of CKE restaurants (Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.) is another D.C. outsider. Like Price, he opposes Obamacare due to higher costs for employers, as well as the $15 minimum wage.

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

Carolyn Kaster/AP Images

Rex Tillerson

Secretary of State

A controversial choice due to his ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Tillerson is the CEO of Exxon Mobil,

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

Evan Vucci/AP Photo

Scott Pruitt

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator

Pruitt, the Attorney General of Oklahoma, fighting the agency that he is tasked to lead.

His appointment would need Senate confirmation.

Linda McMahon

Small Business Association Administrator

McMahon is best known as the co-founder and CEO of WWE — World Wrestling Entertainment — one of the strongest brands. She unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2010.

Her appointment would need Senate confirmation.

Jessica Hill/AP Images

Nikki Haley

United Nations Ambassador

Haley, the governor of South Carolina, has relatively little foreign policy experience.